Cameroon – AIDS: A slight decrease in the prevalence rate in 2016

The AIDS prevalence rate went from 4.3% to 3.9% in 2016. The announcement was made in Yaoundé on Thursday (June 22nd) as part of the statutory meeting of the National AIDS Committee (CNnls) By the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda.

By opening the works, reports Cameroon Tribune in newsstand this Friday June 30, Minsante congratulated the Cnls for the work slaughtered. Thus, in the field of prevention, several actions have been carried out, including free screening campaigns for the general population and targeting marginalized and specific groups in particular.

The sustainability of these campaigns has allowed voluntary testing to be better anchored in the behavior of populations. The evidence shows that 2,500,000 people were detected across the country in 2016.

Regarding the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the newspaper revealed that 714,146 pregnant women were admitted to antenatal care, 624,592 were tested for HIV. In addition, 32,623,453 male and female condoms were distributed.

On the management side, a considerable effort has also been made to promote access to treatment and treatment with antiretrovirals. 15,620 children born to HIV-positive mothers were tested for the first time. Similarly, the offer of services for biological monitoring, counting CD4 lymphocytes and measuring the viral load has increased considerably.

In addition, Minsante said that with the funding of the Global Fund, Cameroon has just acquired 10 additional mobile units to boost screening in the ten regions. In 2017, several actions are also planned, notably within the framework of the “Test and Treat” campaign, which aims at the detection of at least 1,855,161 people.